Covid-19 infected kids with co-morbid conditions like heart disease, malnutrition, malignancy, diabetes and chronic kidney disorder among others have less chances of survival, according to a study published in the recent journal of Indian Pediatric.
Of the 969 children admitted during the study period between March 19, 2020 to August 7, 2020, it was found that 123 i.e. 12.8 per cent tested positive for Covid-19 including 16 (13%) extramural neonates. Five (4.1 per cent) had a history of travel.
SARS-CoV-2 positive children were classified into Group I comprising previously healthy children while Group II had children having comorbidities like heart disease, diabetes, malignancy, malnutrition, renal, hepatobiliary, neurological, surgical/ orthopedic conditions, etc, as per the study ‘Outcome of Children Admitted With SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Experiences From a Pediatric Public Hospital.’
A team of doctors led by Dr Sudha Rao from Department of Pediatrics, Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai, Maharashtra said that at least 123 (71 boys) kids with median age of 3 were admitted, of which 47 (38 per cent) had comorbidities.
Eighty four (68.3 per cent) children did not require respiratory support while more number of children in Group I ie 13 out of 19 kids required ventilator care. Similarly Vasoactive drugs were required in 15 percent of the total cases while 139 (32 per cent) children required intensive care and 14 (11.4 per cent) died, said the study.
While Covid-19 generally causes mild disease in children, severe respiratory illness and MIS-C occur, in some cases with fatal outcomes. Children with underlying diseases might be at special risk for severe disease.
In fact, an analysis of at least forty-two studies containing 275,661 children without comorbidities and 9,353 children with comorbidities was done by a team of scientists last year too.